Born the day after mine, Kyra Camden Lee arrived a little after 8 PM, December 30th to my siblings Shay and Jayson. She is a healthy 7 lb. 2 oz., 20 in. baby. Grandma says she's got dark hair, big light-colored eyes, a pointy upturned nose, and a wide mouth! We get to go see her in an hour or so, so we'll be posting pics later today!
Happy New Year's Eve!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
First Christmas
Merry Christmas! HO HO HO! To celebrate Hazel's first Christmas I'm posting pictures of all our first Christmases. Santa's face may have changed a bit over the years, but the joy is still the same.
So, can you tell who is who? I'm gonna have to say that our birthdays give it away, especially since the clothing doesn't. Who puts a baby girl in blue and red stripes? My mom, evidently.
As you can see, our October babies do better with Santa than the others. Okay, so Tomie had a non-crying picture too, but I posted the crying one so I wouldn't be the only brat child. :o)
So, can you tell who is who? I'm gonna have to say that our birthdays give it away, especially since the clothing doesn't. Who puts a baby girl in blue and red stripes? My mom, evidently.
As you can see, our October babies do better with Santa than the others. Okay, so Tomie had a non-crying picture too, but I posted the crying one so I wouldn't be the only brat child. :o)
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
The Twelve Days of Christmas
I love the 12 Days of Christmas! It's such a delightful bit of goodness that, for me, is less hectic than Advent. Starting the evening of Christmas and going until Epiphany, it's a time to celebrate Christian beliefs and events in the life of Christ. Read all about it here and here and join me as we follow the Three Wise Men in pursuit of the Christ Child.
Click the pic for some Holiday Cheer!
Click the pic for some Holiday Cheer!Tuesday, December 23, 2008
A Hodown Holiday with the Strattons
Send your own ElfYourself eCards
As odd as this might sound, we have a cut out of Craig's head and for years have amused ourselves endlessly by putting it on everybody else's pictures. Good times! Great memories!Also funny is the fact that you'd NEVER find the sibs shakin' it at a hodown, except maybe for Craig!
Boogie with the Gubler Elves!
Send your own ElfYourself eCards
We love these so much, we just couldn't resist! Thanks Sunday, December 21, 2008
This Morning's Minor Miracle
It goes like this...
I'm nursing the baby, Levi's working on something or other... but where is Tomas?
All I hear is, "Oh Tomas!"
Do I really want to know?
Like it or not, Levi reports that Tomie has colored all over his dresser, chair, closet door, and lawn mower.
At first, I'm not too concerned. He's got washable markers and crayons, no worries! Oh no... he used the green sharpie! AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!
After a few deep breaths I resigned myself to the colorful state of things without beating my child. Then I hear, "Oh Tomas!" again.
Levi discovered more permanent marker on our LCD computer monitor! Nothing like trying to look at screen through Tomie's artwork.
And now, the MIRACLE...
I look online for a solution to my marker quandary and lo and behold there are all sorts of posts on how to remove sharpie - courtesy of the many other people out there with creative two-year-olds. The toothpaste removed the marker on the screen quickly without damaging the screen and isopropyl alcohol fixed the dresser and closet. I left the lawn mower as it was, seeing that it's his toy and he can color it if he wants to.
And so my Sunday was saved from the attack of the Mischievous Marker Man. Now if I could say the same for the Sacrament Screamer Man, I would be a sane and happy mother.
I'm nursing the baby, Levi's working on something or other... but where is Tomas?
All I hear is, "Oh Tomas!"
Do I really want to know?
Like it or not, Levi reports that Tomie has colored all over his dresser, chair, closet door, and lawn mower.
At first, I'm not too concerned. He's got washable markers and crayons, no worries! Oh no... he used the green sharpie! AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!
After a few deep breaths I resigned myself to the colorful state of things without beating my child. Then I hear, "Oh Tomas!" again.
Levi discovered more permanent marker on our LCD computer monitor! Nothing like trying to look at screen through Tomie's artwork.
And now, the MIRACLE...
I look online for a solution to my marker quandary and lo and behold there are all sorts of posts on how to remove sharpie - courtesy of the many other people out there with creative two-year-olds. The toothpaste removed the marker on the screen quickly without damaging the screen and isopropyl alcohol fixed the dresser and closet. I left the lawn mower as it was, seeing that it's his toy and he can color it if he wants to.
And so my Sunday was saved from the attack of the Mischievous Marker Man. Now if I could say the same for the Sacrament Screamer Man, I would be a sane and happy mother.
Friday, December 19, 2008
A Manifestation of the Spirit?
We just had our Activity Day Recognition Ceremony.
The front of the invitation I made and yes, I was as nuts with this as with the blessing announcement. I got the formatting idea from Maridee.
We went to the temple visitor center, gave the girls their charm bracelets, and went through the presentations on the family and the life of Jesus. I had planned on taking pictures by the temple and having hot chocolate while we looked at the lights, but I didn't plan on snow! So we took pictures by the Christus and ate candy canes - an excellent alternative!
All my sweet Activity Day girls but one, showing off their new bracelets!
But as I was taking pictures, I kept getting this crazy blur! I messed with my flash and my different camera settings to no avail! I could only conclude that the Spirit was with us. Only after everyone was leaving did I think to look at my lens and, sure enough, it was all gooped up from taking pictures in the snow! Argh, no time for retakes! Oh well, it is a visual reminder that we really did feel the Spirit that evening as the sister missionaries bore their testimonies of Christ and the eternal nature of the family!
The front of the invitation I made and yes, I was as nuts with this as with the blessing announcement. I got the formatting idea from Maridee.We went to the temple visitor center, gave the girls their charm bracelets, and went through the presentations on the family and the life of Jesus. I had planned on taking pictures by the temple and having hot chocolate while we looked at the lights, but I didn't plan on snow! So we took pictures by the Christus and ate candy canes - an excellent alternative!
All my sweet Activity Day girls but one, showing off their new bracelets!But as I was taking pictures, I kept getting this crazy blur! I messed with my flash and my different camera settings to no avail! I could only conclude that the Spirit was with us. Only after everyone was leaving did I think to look at my lens and, sure enough, it was all gooped up from taking pictures in the snow! Argh, no time for retakes! Oh well, it is a visual reminder that we really did feel the Spirit that evening as the sister missionaries bore their testimonies of Christ and the eternal nature of the family!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Parson Brown?
He has NOTHIN' on our snowman! You can check out our snowman sportin' the season's finest and shakin' his frosty thang on the catwalk. Or maybe he's just got multiple personalities or is going through an identity crisis. Either way, we had a lot of fun!
Monday, December 15, 2008
Overthinking!!!
It's times like these when I wish Shay were here to tell me to, "STOP IT ALREADY!" In the course of the past few days I have constructed and reconstructed three different blessing invitations and written and rewritten three different poems. OCD? I'm gonna say yes.
This was my first attempt which I like very much.
But what to write on it? It's too big a space to just put where and when. So that got me writing poems.
Yeah, this one ... ugh! So I tried something different:
I really like this one! But there is no way it's gonna fit on this invitation. So I try again...
Well, at least it fit the given space... so it'll have to do, even if it is rather awkward and over-thought.
Meanwhile, I started messing with the invitation format and ended up with this invitation that had no room for a poem and hence, just had information and another smiley-cute picture.
Both are stinkin' cute, if I say so myself, and showcase my pretty girl and her blessing dress my Mom made. But when I go to print and post them they come out dark and messy. ARGH yet again! So, I try something simpler...
Well, it's still cute - at least on paper- and gets the message across. Plus it prints better because it's white and comes out cleaner looking. It's also much smaller and I can print a lot at a time! Yeah!
So, friends and family, consider yourselves thoroughly invited with three separate announcements! And I'll try to stop being the perfectionist my sister trained me to be. Lucky her, I taught her how to be lazy. :o)
This was my first attempt which I like very much.
But what to write on it? It's too big a space to just put where and when. So that got me writing poems.
Yeah, this one ... ugh! So I tried something different:
I really like this one! But there is no way it's gonna fit on this invitation. So I try again...
Well, at least it fit the given space... so it'll have to do, even if it is rather awkward and over-thought.
Meanwhile, I started messing with the invitation format and ended up with this invitation that had no room for a poem and hence, just had information and another smiley-cute picture.
Both are stinkin' cute, if I say so myself, and showcase my pretty girl and her blessing dress my Mom made. But when I go to print and post them they come out dark and messy. ARGH yet again! So, I try something simpler...
Well, it's still cute - at least on paper- and gets the message across. Plus it prints better because it's white and comes out cleaner looking. It's also much smaller and I can print a lot at a time! Yeah!
So, friends and family, consider yourselves thoroughly invited with three separate announcements! And I'll try to stop being the perfectionist my sister trained me to be. Lucky her, I taught her how to be lazy. :o)
A Gift Tag
Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends.
Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!!! Copy to your blog... Change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then tag 6 people!
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? I like pretty wrapping paper with fabulous bows and tags, but when I need to hurry, gift bags are the wrapping of choice and so easy to reuse!
2. Real tree or Artificial? I have an artificial tree (pre-lit is a joy!), but I LOVE the smell of a real tree. Maybe next year?
3. When do you put up the tree? The weekend after Thanksgiving.
4. When do you take the tree down? Whenever I feel like it! Generally after the New Year.
5. Do you like eggnog? ICK! The thought of drinking raw eggs...shiver! On a happy note, it reminds me of my favorite first brother-in-law!
3. When do you put up the tree? The weekend after Thanksgiving.
4. When do you take the tree down? Whenever I feel like it! Generally after the New Year.
5. Do you like eggnog? ICK! The thought of drinking raw eggs...shiver! On a happy note, it reminds me of my favorite first brother-in-law!
6. Do you have a stocking? I have one at my parents' house that my Grandma S. made. She made a girl one for my sister and boy ones for my brother, but I got a really cool one with snowflakes and other patterns. I always liked it the best because it was different.
7. Hardest person to buy for? Travis and Alisa!
7. Hardest person to buy for? Travis and Alisa!
8. Easiest person to buy for? Me! Ha Ha!
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Of course! I have a giant set that I got at a yard sale for $2. They were chipped, but that saved me from being worried about the kids. The kids each have their very own sets thanks to Grandma Teresa. (They can't touch those ones, except to put them out.)
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail!!!
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Of course! I have a giant set that I got at a yard sale for $2. They were chipped, but that saved me from being worried about the kids. The kids each have their very own sets thanks to Grandma Teresa. (They can't touch those ones, except to put them out.)
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail!!!
11. Most memorable Christmas gift you ever received? My Cabbage Patch Carly, the year of the great Cabbage Patch Doll Dearth. I knew I'd never get one, but low and behold! Santa is AMAZING! I sure loved her!
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Holiday Inn
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Umm... traditionally... Christmas Eve. Ha ha! This year I started in October - I caught the Christmas bug early!
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I dunno.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I dunno.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? TURTLES! Chocolately, caramel-ly, pecan-y JOY! My Mom makes the very best turtles in the whole entire WORLD. I also love petit fours, but they're too hard to find!
16. Lights on the tree? Yes! Ha ha! I like white lights on my tree, but colored lights DEFINITELY have their place in the world. I also like bubble lights; my Dad always made a big deal of loving bubble lights, so I can't help but love them too.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Any primary Christmas song and Ave Maria.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? I'd much rather stay home. Most of the family is here. But I did enjoy our trip to San Diego last year with Levi's family.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Who can't?! ;o)
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? I have both. The star is up this year. When I was little, we had this beautiful crocheted angel than had to be starched every year. She was a FAVORITE!
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Morning!! I like that Levi likes opening presents all day. It's very exciting!
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Having a birthday after Christmas. But I'm learning to cope :o) Mostly it's fun to whine about having a birthday after Christmas.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Lately, I've had a thing for pomegranates. Though, if you check out my house, you'd notice that cardinals abound. "We Like Card'nals!"
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Morning!! I like that Levi likes opening presents all day. It's very exciting!
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Having a birthday after Christmas. But I'm learning to cope :o) Mostly it's fun to whine about having a birthday after Christmas.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Lately, I've had a thing for pomegranates. Though, if you check out my house, you'd notice that cardinals abound. "We Like Card'nals!"
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? We don't so much do a Christmas dinner. Christmas breakfast is much better - with pomegranate syrup on waffles and sausage!
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I have a long list if you'd like to see it... :o)
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I have a long list if you'd like to see it... :o)
26. Who is most likely to respond to this? I dunno.
27. Favorite Christmas Tradition? Getting up insanely early to open presents by the magical light of the Christmas tree. Everything is so much more enchanting before the sun rises.Let's see... I think I shall TAG Mom, LaDawna, Jamie, Wendy, Nicole, and Rayn.
The Dangers of Blogging
So this morning we woke up, had breakfast, took baths to wash off the breakfast, then got dressed for the day. While I was dressing my baby, Tomie got the Cabbage Patch Doll and started playing with her. I put socks on, so he needed to put socks on the doll (aka "baby") and then she needed shoes, so we found them and put them on.
After dressing was complete, I went to check blogs while I held Hazel and Tomas played on the floor with the "baby." As I'm reading, Tomas asks for help taking the baby's dress off, so I help him with that. A few minutes later, I notice him struggling to take off her socks and shoes, so I help him with that too. Next thing I notice, he's brought me his sippy to fill up with water. So I get up and head to the bathroom to fill it up. When I get to the tiled floor, I notice wet footprints trailing after my son. Hmmm...?
Sure enough, we hadn't let the water out of the tub - Argh! and Tomie has recently gotten tall enough to climb in and out by himself, but he wasn't wet all over, just his socks. How? So I asked him if he'd gotten in the tub. He replies, "Baby!" I'm thinking, we've already given the baby a bath and she's safely stowed in the office in her bouncy chair. So I repeat the question or something similar thereto and get the same reply, "baby!"
Wondering, I fill up his sippy and head out the other door and notice water drips headed in the direction of my bedroom. Okay, something fishy is DEFINITELY going on! I finally conclude that the Cabbage Patch "baby" had taken a bath! Grabbing a towel to dry the floor, I asked Tomas where the baby was since she wasn't in the bath, and he noticed the towel and said, "cold!" That clinched it, the baby had definitely taken a bath, was a wet soggy mess somewhere, and (according to Tomie) in need of a towel.
I look through all the bedrooms and finally find her back in the office. I hadn't noticed her before because she didn't look wet when I passed her, but when I picked her up she had gained ten pounds and magically learned the coveted doll ability to pee. She had also obtained some lovely blue and maroon face paint - how festive!
Baby dripping over the tub. Looks like the dinosaurs are thirsty!
Close-up of Tomie's masterpiece. Hopefully a magic eraser will remove the crayon!
I could only laugh and hope my doll doesn't get too moldy. What a good little daddy my boy is. How many dad's voluntarily get the kids undressed and into the bath? Of course, I hope he NEVER tries that little stunt with Hazel! Now I need to go change Hazel, for as I've written this, Hazel has been working on a project of her own. One that involves painting onesie, pants, and blanket with a mustard yellow substance that looks amazingly similar to the substance in her diaper.
Oh the dangers of blogging! and of motherhood :o)
After dressing was complete, I went to check blogs while I held Hazel and Tomas played on the floor with the "baby." As I'm reading, Tomas asks for help taking the baby's dress off, so I help him with that. A few minutes later, I notice him struggling to take off her socks and shoes, so I help him with that too. Next thing I notice, he's brought me his sippy to fill up with water. So I get up and head to the bathroom to fill it up. When I get to the tiled floor, I notice wet footprints trailing after my son. Hmmm...?
Sure enough, we hadn't let the water out of the tub - Argh! and Tomie has recently gotten tall enough to climb in and out by himself, but he wasn't wet all over, just his socks. How? So I asked him if he'd gotten in the tub. He replies, "Baby!" I'm thinking, we've already given the baby a bath and she's safely stowed in the office in her bouncy chair. So I repeat the question or something similar thereto and get the same reply, "baby!"
Wondering, I fill up his sippy and head out the other door and notice water drips headed in the direction of my bedroom. Okay, something fishy is DEFINITELY going on! I finally conclude that the Cabbage Patch "baby" had taken a bath! Grabbing a towel to dry the floor, I asked Tomas where the baby was since she wasn't in the bath, and he noticed the towel and said, "cold!" That clinched it, the baby had definitely taken a bath, was a wet soggy mess somewhere, and (according to Tomie) in need of a towel.
I look through all the bedrooms and finally find her back in the office. I hadn't noticed her before because she didn't look wet when I passed her, but when I picked her up she had gained ten pounds and magically learned the coveted doll ability to pee. She had also obtained some lovely blue and maroon face paint - how festive!
Baby dripping over the tub. Looks like the dinosaurs are thirsty!
Close-up of Tomie's masterpiece. Hopefully a magic eraser will remove the crayon!I could only laugh and hope my doll doesn't get too moldy. What a good little daddy my boy is. How many dad's voluntarily get the kids undressed and into the bath? Of course, I hope he NEVER tries that little stunt with Hazel! Now I need to go change Hazel, for as I've written this, Hazel has been working on a project of her own. One that involves painting onesie, pants, and blanket with a mustard yellow substance that looks amazingly similar to the substance in her diaper.
Oh the dangers of blogging! and of motherhood :o)
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Beautiful Baby & Her Helpful Brother
Once again, I was using the video feature on my camera in order to catch some cute pictures of Hazel. She's just so cute and happy cooing in this first one. Brother was helping A LOT in the second one. Amazingly, his attempts at pretend feeding his sister with the large scraper spoon and wooden scoop made her laugh... after her initial flinch!
Two Peas in a Gubler Pod?
Everyone wonders whether or not Hazel looks like Tomas. What do you think? Make sure to vote!
Thursday, December 4, 2008
What are you doing New Years Eve?
This is the question I must pose to my husband since I'm headed to Missouri! Yep, I just booked airfare for Hazel, Tomas, Colt, Mom, and myself for a trip to Grovespring, the sibs, and the neichews from 12/29 - 1/5. It will be fun to visit the Lee fam-o-lee and hopefully catch the arrival of their new addition! I look forward to the trip, but I'll sure miss my Levi come midnight of Dec. 31!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Tape Faces
I have a favorite activity. It is called tape faces, because, well, you use tape to make funny faces. Obviously!
Anywho, this evening we were cutting out paper snowflakes and taping them on the window when I turn around to see my son has pulled out a big wad of tape that was stuck all over his arm.
I was about to get mad - he was already driving me nuts with undecorating the Christmas tree, dumping out all the puzzles, spitting, ripping snowflakes et cetera and so forth - when I noticed he kept putting it to his face, asking in his own way to play tape faces. Happily, this turned my scream of frustration into a laugh of amusement and we went about making faces:
Always a fun activity, especially with multiple strands of tape!
Anywho, this evening we were cutting out paper snowflakes and taping them on the window when I turn around to see my son has pulled out a big wad of tape that was stuck all over his arm.
I was about to get mad - he was already driving me nuts with undecorating the Christmas tree, dumping out all the puzzles, spitting, ripping snowflakes et cetera and so forth - when I noticed he kept putting it to his face, asking in his own way to play tape faces. Happily, this turned my scream of frustration into a laugh of amusement and we went about making faces:
Always a fun activity, especially with multiple strands of tape!
Who Farted? or How I Spent my Thanksgiving Weekend.
We had a fun Thanksgiving. It started around 1 in the morning with a feverish Tomas puking all over. GREAT FUN! Then Levi wasn't feeling too hot, but by noon everyone seemed to be feeling fine so we ventured over to the Heaton Family party. That was enjoyable and provided a chance to meet many of Levi's relations that don't make it to Southern Utah very often. We all stuffed ourselves like a turkey with all sorts of delights - especially Grandma's famous pumpkin pie! It's so good that even Levi will eat it with a smile on his face. The after-dinner entertainment was highly entertaining. First the kids sang some primary songs and did a BEAUTIFUL job! I wish I would have caught them on video, but I did catch some other priceless moments for you to enjoy!
Teresa will probably disown me for posting this, but I think they did a remarkable job, especially considering how white they are. The brown cousins make it all look SO easy and graceful!
After the show, we skipped out on the game of Family Feud in favor of a much needed nap and later wound up the day with Levi playing a little b-ball with the cousins and Tomie playing with his cousin, Zaylee.
Friday sped along with a quick trip to Walmart to get Tomas some pants (4 pair for $16, yeah!); football; visiting, lunch, and bowling with Travis' fam and the parents; a very short nap; more 
vo
mitrociousness (on Levi's part this time); a trip, without Levi, to see the lights at the temple; and lastly, shopping with Colt. It was a busy day, but Tomie loved the baby Jesus and the animals at the Temple.
Saturday found Levi up on the roof at his parents house putting up lights. My thanksgiving thought is that I am thankful that Levi didn't blow off the roof - it was WINDY! That evening Teresa watched the kids while Alex, Nicole, Levi, and I went on a double date to our house to play Phase 10 (I won! Barely and thanks in part to Nicole!), eat milk shakes (Levi's got some mean milk shakin' skills), visit, and watch Kung Fu Panda (skadoush!). It was a blissful break from keeping tabs on Tomas.
Sunday found us back to our usual routine, more napping, and ready to start the Christmas season!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Teresa will probably disown me for posting this, but I think they did a remarkable job, especially considering how white they are. The brown cousins make it all look SO easy and graceful!
After the show, we skipped out on the game of Family Feud in favor of a much needed nap and later wound up the day with Levi playing a little b-ball with the cousins and Tomie playing with his cousin, Zaylee.
Friday sped along with a quick trip to Walmart to get Tomas some pants (4 pair for $16, yeah!); football; visiting, lunch, and bowling with Travis' fam and the parents; a very short nap; more 
vo
mitrociousness (on Levi's part this time); a trip, without Levi, to see the lights at the temple; and lastly, shopping with Colt. It was a busy day, but Tomie loved the baby Jesus and the animals at the Temple.Saturday found Levi up on the roof at his parents house putting up lights. My thanksgiving thought is that I am thankful that Levi didn't blow off the roof - it was WINDY! That evening Teresa watched the kids while Alex, Nicole, Levi, and I went on a double date to our house to play Phase 10 (I won! Barely and thanks in part to Nicole!), eat milk shakes (Levi's got some mean milk shakin' skills), visit, and watch Kung Fu Panda (skadoush!). It was a blissful break from keeping tabs on Tomas.
Sunday found us back to our usual routine, more napping, and ready to start the Christmas season!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
